healing of worn-down cartilage or a reduction of inflammation in the joint, Meyer-Marcotty says.
The German researchers aren’t the only ones investigating the use of body fat to treat joint problems, says Dr. Jacques Hacquebord, an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at NYU Langone in New York City.
“We have actually started doing a study ourselves, not for arthritis but for tennis elbow,” he adds. “That concept of fat-derived stem cells is something that’s been looked at and been used.”
The procedure is costly and not covered by insurance, Hacquebord notes.
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Whether lipofilling is worth trying depends on the usual treatment option you’d otherwise choose, he adds.
Steroid injections into arthritic joints are cheap, easy and effective, “so when you compare this to steroid injections, then the threshold you’re placing for yourself to show efficacy is very high,” Hacquebord notes.
On the other hand, lipofilling is much easier, cheaper and noninvasive compared to surgical options for finger joint arthritis, Hacquebord says. Surgical options include fusing or replacing the joint, or transferring tendons from other parts of the body to the fingers.
“If you’re saying this is going to be an improvement compared to surgery, that’s an easier difference to show,” Hacquebord concludes.
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If you have hand arthritis, talk with your healthcare provider. He or she can explain what outcome you can expect for your type and severity of arthritis, your age, other existing medical conditions and other factors as well as help you determine the best method of treatment.
